"Xi," The Child mumbled softly, "Xi."
"What did you say, Child?" The Prophet asked.
"Xi, Prophet. I
don't understand Xi in the Greek language."
"You will continually be amazed at what you don't
understand, Child."
"Well, do you know if X is called Xi in Greek,
Prophet."
"Were you also aware xi is the fourteenth letter in the
Greek alphabet?"
"No, I wasn't, Prophet."
"Child, what is the first letter in the Greek
alphabet?"
"It's Alpha, Prophet, but what has that to do with xi?"
"Xi has to do with the Phoenician letter samekh."
"Is it the same as x, Prophet?"
"No, Child. X in
Greek is chi, and xi is not x."
"This is so confusing."
"Child, language is confusing," The Prophet said.
The Child laughed. "Prophet, nothing confuses you. Even
now, you know much more than you're telling me."
"What is the last letter of the Greek alphabet?"
The Prophet asked.
"I'm not sure, but I believe it is Omega."
"Correct. Now
would you like me to tell you the story of how the xi gets confused with the
consonant x?"
"Oh yes, Prophet, and while you're telling me that
story, please tell me why Alpha is the beginning, and Omega is the end."
"Get comfortable on your lily pad, Child, because
you've asked for the mountain again," The Prophet said, and he chuckled at
her curiosity.
The Child stretched herself out on the lily pad which
floated on the ocean, and Mr. Whale alongside them and the Prophet began, "Once
upon a time, there were Phoenicians who…"
Shalom,
Pat Garcia
